Isn’t this kind the same thing as a regular bike except it’s kind of useless? Probably won’t go too far on flat ground.

Jul 22nd, 2012

John

Its based on a regular bike but its not useless, could you cycle up to 60mph?… and it wasn’t designed for basic or commercial ground use as it doesn’t have any gears, chains etc. Thought the title’ Gravity Bike’ would give you an idea of what its designed for…
I personally love this design, follows leans manufacturing and it looks great for a prototype, however I would hate to have my hands near that wheel when its reached higher then 30mph :/

Jul 22nd, 2012

Pearl Lamie

i’d like it better if someone designed a regular bike so you could flip off the gears/chain for downhill. Now THAT would be elegant!

Jul 22nd, 2012

Kochtopf

Does it have beaks? if not that would be one HELL of a hazard going downhill (cars and what not)

Jul 22nd, 2012

chillaroo

if you stop pedaling on a reagular bike you have a gravity bike

Jul 22nd, 2012

Douglas

Like the picture of the lean going into the turn. Some big ones there!!!

Jul 22nd, 2012

John

Pearl Lamie, if it could change into that idea then it won’t be as fast as it would normally be, idea of a gravity bike is too be as light as possible and to gain as much speed. I think people are missing the point here, its a gravity bike for downhill use, no breaks or gears or chains. Purely for speed and light weight use.

Jul 22nd, 2012

Truly Spokin

This is nothing new. GPV bike were done back in the 80’s on 20″ wheels. Converted bmx bikes mostly. But I believe Hutch sold a production model.

Jul 22nd, 2012

Tom

John, this thing does have brakes. It looks a lot like my racing bike i just to have when i was a kid.
With a normal racing bike it’s pretty easy to reach 60km/h downhill.
Probable fun to build, pretty useless compared to a normal bike.

Jul 22nd, 2012

Fillibert

cafe racer of bikes

Jul 23rd, 2012

John

Tom, haha sorry I didn’t notice the breaks, normally they don’t have breaks but for safety reasons for this one :D

Jul 23rd, 2012

Enrico Martinez

Baguio, Philippines has already Gravity Bikes, and made entirely of wood.
The indigenous tribes has made their wooden gravity bikes (WGB) as a mode of transportation and hauling marketable goods from highland to the lowlands.
Many WGB has carved images of lion heads and other ethnic designs, some of which are sold to foreigners.

Jul 23rd, 2012

Biff

If you take away the chain & pedals why not ditch the brakes too? That WOULD be simple elegance… If it is gravity based then making the rider wear thick soled shoes to stop would be no less inconvenient than requiring a gravity based route.

Jul 23rd, 2012

Gert

The people that think it shouldn’t have breaks have never tasted pavement from nailing a seemingly small bump.

Jul 25th, 2012

Edward Martinez

For added protection;
Wear the Dark Knight Motorcycle Suit
While using this Gravity Bike.

Jul 27th, 2012

Ian Stone

I used to race USCF cycling in the 1980s….with a 19 lb finely tuned road racing bike and in an aerodynamic position, you would easily see speeds up to 55-65 mph on mountain descents. I think the fastest I’ve gone is 68mph in a race. Pretty damn scary as I recall.

So, while I think this design is super cool…and would be a great experimental toy and I applaud the designer….physics is physics: Newton’s second law applies. A 10 lb bowling ball rolls down the same hill at the exact same speed as a same size 30 lb ball of greater mass.